Japan Passes Landmark Law Allowing Joint Custody for Divorced Parents for the 1st time
In a historic move, Japan's parliament has passed a significant revision to the country's civil code, allowing divorced parents the option of joint child custody. This landmark change, the first update to custody rights in nearly 80 years, will take effect by 2026 and marks a significant shift in Japan's approach to family law, aligning it more closely with practices in many other countries. Under the current law, child custody in Japan is granted to only one divorced parent, almost invariably the mother. This system has often left divorced fathers struggling to maintain relationships with their children. With divorces on the rise in Japan, there has been increasing pressure from various quarters—including high-profile cases involving foreign fathers—to modernize custody laws and ensure that both parents can play a role in their children's lives post-divorce. The revised law offers divorced parents the choice between dual and single custody, emphasizing the need for c...
